Loom harness



Patented Aug. 26, 1947 LOOM HARNESS John Jacob Kaufmann, Elkins Park, Pa., assignor to Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Application September 24, 1945, Serial No. 618,119

Claims.

This invention relates to loom harness, and it relates more particularly to the heddles employed in harness of the type used in installations Where the warp ends are entered or inserted through the harness by means of the automatic drawingin machines which are now in more or less common use in textile mills.

One of the most popular forms of heddles, for use in installations as aforesaid, comprise those shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of my previous Letters Patent No. 2,047,511, dated July 14, 1936, However, one difficulty which has developed in connection with the manufacture and use of such heddles arises out of the fact that inthe plating of the heddles, to render the same rust proof, it frequently happens that the broad areas adjacent the slots at the ends, and adjacent the warp eyes in the center, are not properly plated, by reason of the heddles bearing against each other and thereby preventing access of the plating fluid to these areas, with the result that subsequently the heddles become rusted at these points which, of course, as is well known, causes damage to the goods being woven, and also interferes with the proper functioning of the heddles when the shedding takes place.

The principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient means on the heddles which will effectively prevent the heddles from bearing against each other where broad areas occur, and thereby insure even and complete plating of the heddles over their entire surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide heddles of the character aforesaid, and particularly of the type intended for use in installations using modern forms of automatic drawing-inmachines, which heddles are yso constructed and arranged as to prevent distortion of the heddles through the pressure of the follower block of the draWing-in-machine during the entering operation.

The nature and characteristic'features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a plurality of heddles embodying the main features of the present invention, the saine being shown mounted on fragmentary lengths of supporting rods;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the supporting rods being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, 'but illustrat- 2 ing the form of the heddle next adjacent that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, 'but illustrating a modied form of heddle construction;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the modied form of heddle shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating the form of the heddle next adjacent that shown in Fig. 5.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein are illustrative merely, and that various changes and modifications may be made in the Structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, in the particular embodiment of the invention therein shown, I0 and II are the usual heddle supporting rods which, as is well known to those familiar with this art, may be supported, in any suitable manner, in frames of any preferred construction.

The heddles I2 are preferably made from thin at strips of metal initially of a uniform width corresponding to the widest portions of the heddle. The central portion I3 of each heddle I2 is preferably left the full width of the strip as is also each end portion I4\thereof, but the parts of the heddles between the central portion I3, and the respective end portions I 4, are sheared down to a considerably narrower width, as at I5, to afford the requisite flexibility in the heddles to permit the proper manipulation of the heddles during the entering of the warp.

The central portion I3 of the heddle is provided with the usual Ipunched'warp eye I5, the Shanks of which may, if desired, be formed, in

bowed conformation, out of the main plane of the heddle proper.

The central portion I3 is `usually left the full width of the strip, for a greater length than would be required merely vfor the warp eye, in order to permit the punching, above the warp eye I6, of a keyhole slot I1, which is provided when the warp is to be entered by means of a warp drawing-in-machine.

Each alternate heddle of a set will ordinarily have the narrow portion of the keyhole slot Il extending upwardly, while in the other alternate heddles the keyhole slot I'I, will be punched with the narrow portion extending downwardly, as is shown respectively in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, this arrangement being provided to assist in the functioning of certain parts of the drawingin machine.

In heddles of this type it is also usually necessary to leave the central portion of the heddle, below the warp eye I6, the full width of the strip, whereby the same may be engaged by parts of the mechanism of the drawing-in machine, which are used for twisting the heddle, to enable the needle of the drawing-in machine to pass freely through .the warp eye I6.

Each of the end portions IMof each of the heddles shown in the drawing (which as hereinabove mentioned are left the full width of the strip from which the heddle is formed) is punched out to provide a slot I8 for mounting the 4Vheddles I2 on the rods I0 and II, and one side portion thereof is cut away as atv I9, substantially midway the extension of the slot1I8, so that when the heddles I2 are slid sidewise on the rods I0 and II, they will pass freely without being obstructed by the bracket members (not shown) which are customarily employed for supporting the heddle rods IIi and II intermediate their ends.

It will be noted that in heddles ofthe-type above mentioned, there will be broad areas 20 adjacent the end slots I8, and other broad areas 2l and 22 at the central portionof the heddle which, by reason of their relatively large'width, whenever the heddles are left in their flat condition, and close to each other, will serve to prevent access of the plating fluid to these areas, `so that the same will be left unplated and subsequently will become rusted while in use. The objection to heddles having rusted portions contacting the warp is too well known to need any discussion.

Heretofore various attempts have been made to overcome this diiculty by the utilization of arrangements such as are shown in the Hathaway patent, No. 1,246,002, and in my previous patent, No. 1,970,175, but these were not practicalforthe present purpose, by reason of the fact that when the bank of heddlesin a frame was subjectedto the pressure of the follower block of the drawing-in machine, during the entering ofthe Warp, the heddles wouldy become distorted and bent out of their normal positions, andthis resulted in substantial interference with the functioning of the selector mechanism of the drawing-in machines, with resulting'errorsin the entering and sometimes damage to the harness and the machine.

The present invention contemplates` a novel arrangement of spacer offsets formed in the narrow portions I5 of the heddles I2 which offsets, in accordance with the present invention, are provided in pairs in each heddle but at locations quite different from those of prior arrangements.

The preferred form of `spacing devices used comprise the formation, in the narrow part I3 of each heddle I2, at the desired locations, of sinuous portions 23 providing extensionson each face of each heddle, which in each location are provided in alternate heddles oppositestraight-portions in the other alternate heddles. However, other forms of spacer offsets may be employed, of different shapes or deformations ofthe narrowxportions of the heddles, at the 'desired locations.

In the construction and arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, each alternate heddle is provided, at its lower portion with a pair of off-sets 23, one set being disposed adjacent the lower widened portion Ill, andthe other set being disposed adjacent the widened'central portion I3 of each of said heddles, whereas, in the other alternate heddles similar offsets are provided in the upper portions, and in each-of said heddles one offset 23 is disposed adjacent the upper enlarged end portion I4 in which the slot I9 is provided, and the other offset 23 is located adjacent the enlarged central portion I4.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the drawing, the offsets 23, in each alternate heddle are provided, one at the upper end adjacent the enlarged portion 'I4 in which the eye I9 is located, and the other in the lower portion of the heddle just below the enlarged central portion I3 thereof, whereas each of the other alternate heddles has an offset in the upper portion, located adjacent the enlarged central portions I3 thereof, and in the lower portion is provided with an offset 23 adjacent the enlarged portion I4 at the lower end thereof in which the eye I9 is located.

It should be, of course, noted that in each instance, wherever an offset 23, in a particular heddle, is positioned, the alternate heddles on each side thereof are, at the same longitudinal location, provided with straight portions against which the offsets 23 bear when pressure is imparted bythe follower block during the entering operation.

It will be noted that in each of the vforegoing arrangements there is provided a -set of offsets 23 immediately above and immediately-belowv the enlarged central portions I3 of the heddles, and that these offsets are positioned well within the shed. lines during the weaving operation, yHeretofore it has always been thought -that'the provision ofsuch spacers at-such locations would seriously interfere with the formation of the shed and would result in the breaking of the warp, Vbut it has vbeen found in 4practice that such offsets may be employed without the results heretofore feared.

.By the use of the offsets in the sets thereof which are provided adjacent theenlarged central portions of the heddles, there results a construction and arrangement which not only `permits the plating fluid to have access to allsurfaces-of the heddles during the plating operation, but in the subsequent use of the heddles in Vconnection with a warp vdrawing-in machine the distortion which would otherwise be caused bythepressure of the follower block of the drawing-in machine is eliminated and the proper functioning Vof the drawing-in. machine is assured.

I claim:

1. In loom harness, a plurality of heddles made of thin flat strips of metal havingV portions with surfaces of relatively broad areas, the means for spacing said heddles on their supporting rods comprising the provision of sets of offsets in the heddles, one set of said offsets being disposed near the tops of the heddles, another set of said offsets being disposed near the bottoms of the heddles, another set vof said offsets being disposed above and adjacent the central portions of the heddles, and another set of said offsets being disposed below and adjacent the central portions of the heddles, the offsets in each set beingl disposed in alternate heddles, and the heddles intermediate said alternate heddles being provided with straight portions opposite the offsets in the alternate heddles.

2. In loom harness, a plurality of heddles made of thin flat strips of metal having intermediate portions vnarrowed in width to provide flexibility, and other wider portions at` the top and bottom and at'the center with surfaces of relatively broad areas, the means for spacing said heddles on their supporting rodscomprising the provision of sets ofoffsetsin the heddles, oneset of said offsets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the tops of the heddles, another set of said offsets being dispo-sed adjacent the widened portions at the bottoms of the heddles, another set of said offsets being disposed above and adjacent the widened portions at thel centers of the heddles, and another set of said offsets being disposed belo-w and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles, the offsets in each set b-eing disposed in alternate heddles, and the heddles intermediate said alternate heddles being provided with straight portions opposite the offsets in the alternate heddles.

3. In loom harness, aplurality of heddles made of thin fiat strips of metal having intermediate' portions narrowed in width to provide flexibility, and other wider portions at the top and bottom and at the center with surfaces of relatively broad areas, the means for spacing said heddles on their supporting rods comprising the provision of sets of offsets in the narrowed portions of the heddles, one set of said offsets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the tops of the heddles, another set of said offsets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the bottoms of the heddles, another set of said offsets being disposed above and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles, and another set of said offsets being disposed below and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles, the offsets in each set being disposed in alternate heddles, and the heddles intermedia said alternate heddles being provided with straight portions opposite the offsets in the alternate heddles.

4. In loom harness, a plurality of heddles made of thin flat strips of metal having intermediate portions narrowed in width to provide exibility, and other wider portions at the top and bottom and at the center with surfaces of relatively broad areas, the means for spacing said heddles on their supporting rods comprising the provision of sets of offsets in the narrowed portions of the heddles, one set of said offsets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the tops of the heddles, another set of said offsets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the bottoms of the heddles, and another set of said offsets being disposed above and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles,

. 6 l another set of said offsets being disposed below and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles, said offsets in each instance comprising a portion of the heddle strip extending out of the main plane of the heddle on each face thereof, the oisets in each set being disposed in alternate heddles, and the heddles intermediate said alternate heddles being provided with straight portions opposite the oifsets in the alternate heddles.

5. In loom harness, a plurality of heddles made of thin flat strips of metal having intermediate portions narrowed in width to provide flexibility, and other wider portions at the top and bottom and at the center with surfaces of relatively broad areas, the means for spacing said heddles on their supporting rods comprising the provision of sets of offsets in the narrowed portions of the heddles, one set of said offsets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the tops of the heddles, another set of said oisets being disposed adjacent the widened portions at the bottoms of the heddles, 'another set of said offsets being disposed above and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles, and another set of said offsets being disposed below and adjacent the widened portions at the centers of the heddles, said offsets in each instance comprising a portion of the heddle strip bent in sinuous form out of the main plane of the heddle on each face thereof, the offsets in each set being disposed in alternate heddles, and the heddles intermediate said alternate heddles being provided with straight portions opposite the offsets in the alternate heddles.

JOHN JACOB KAUFMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,252,184 Kaufmann Aug. 12, 1941 2,047,511 Kaufmann July 14, 1936 1,970,175 Kaufmann Aug. 14, 1934 1,246,002 Hathaway Nov. 6, 1917 1,517,129 Ruegg Nov. 25, 1924 1,847,579 Turner Mar. 1, 1932 

